a drippy situation

Lots of melting this week. Everything is dripping; including my water heater. I thought the biggest problems for the week would be sock knitting and getting Thing 1's birthday gifts shipped. No such luck. The much feared heel was fiddly but impossible.

The really irritating thing about the dying water heater is that the warranty ran out last month. I just know there is some sort of built in timer to ensure this.


**The sock monkeys are for Thing 1 and 2 for their birthdays this year. There are matching kid sized flannel pj's made by Mom.  Thing 1 already has a cape and mask from last year.

Progress

The snow from earlier this week has melted off. I feared the new snow was a sign of prolonging the winter but it didn't slow down the thaw. We had sun yesterday; you could almost see the ice burgs in  the yard receding. 

It's coming on towards Easter and bunny time again.  The wild ones in the meadow have been running during daylight hours so that must mean it's mating season again. Spring is finally on its way!

Small boat

Most of the country might be laid up with the flu but I was cut down by an oatmeal muffin. Too much health food just isn't good for me I guess.  While my stomach was fighting with the evil muffin; I mangled three sewing sewing projects and  lost a variety of small tools ( most of which turned up in the lettuce drawer),  Why I put random things in the lettuce drawer is beyond me. I don't recall anyone mentioned this when going over the chemo plan. "You'll be really sick and go bald for a while. Oh; and you might get dementia." I think I would remember that last bit. But then again maybe not, I can't remember what the snow plow guy's name is half the time.

So I survived the evil muffin and made a small boat.

Knitting for small people

With the holidays still in the rear view, I have come to the unassailable fact that the smaller a person is the easier gift making/giving is. In fact if a person is brand new it's really easy. Actually I think I would prefer it if most of gift recipient's couldn't talk. Everything would be so much simpler, especially for knit things.

This came into my head as I was making baby shoes this week. As long as it not itchy, a baby is happy. Thing 1 and 2 on the other hand have reached the ages where they not only have opinions, but insist on sharing them. Yes, I know all part of growing up and having communication skills. But now I don't have anyone to make this fox scarf for.

                                                                       ource: herkkujakoukku.blogspot.com via Dancing on Pinterest

Thing 1 has declared this to be lame and a strangling hazard. I thought it was cute and would be less hazardous than an ordinary scarf that was forever falling off. Oh well. I'll have to listen to the boy if I don't want to be the aunt from A Christmas Story. At least I would never send him a giant bunny suit.

Monster update

Finished my Hug Me Monster. This guy is on his way to Ohio to join the growing army for 600 Monsters Strong. It really is an army too, check out the galleries of finished monsters.

        Ravelry  -----  Facebook ----- Instagram 

In other toy news; The Toy Society seems to have been abandoned. At least the main website anyway. The posts on Flicker are still growing, people are still  leaving anonymous handmade gifts for perfect strangers.  With the organizers AWOL, some droppers have started a Facebook page to ensure theses random acts of kindness (and craft) continue. For more information about the new system for logging dropped and found toys head over to TOTS- The Other Toy Society

Monster's for Sandy Hook

If last Friday's school massacre proved that the world is a horrible place and people are awful; then the antidote for me is little monsters.  The group 600 Monsters Strong is knitting toy monsters for the kids of Sandy Hook.  There are still nice people and a lot of them are knitters.

Links : Facebook, Ravelry group , Rebecca Danger (monster patterns)

All monsters must be in Ohio by Jan. 31.

List for Friday

•  I've been obsessively making these little knitted lambs. They are from an old Waldorf pattern similar to this one.

• Stupid War (my brother's pal since high school)
• 
  
•  Grapefruit Tequila - a quart is infusing in my 'fridge
• 
  
• What to read next?
• 
  
• Operatic Pasta Timer
• 
  
• I made this over the dinning table. (I can't seem to photograph it but it's cool.)
• 
  
• TP Tube Advent House/Calendar
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• I'm sending a rock to Little Fish Studios, you should too.
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• Vintage Vikings

Smoke Zombie

Smoke from forest fires in central Washington and Idaho is blanketing the area. While everyone is happy there are no local fires burning, the air is terrible. Even people without allergies are walking around with irritated eyes and headaches. The whole town looks like it's recovering from a hangover.
US Forest Service Fire Mapping

I made this zombie hat the other day while hiding from the smoke indoors. Thing 1 wants to be a zombie for Halloween so this may be part of what go to school that day. Making the eyes was a little disturbing, especially when the kittens ran off with the dangly one.

Blue Garter Cardi

Why have I never made cloth buttons before? They are fabulous, easy , and creates a justification for fat quarter purchases. What could be better?  These little houses seemed like the perfect foil for the plainness (is plainness a word? It seems appropriate.) of the pattern.. This is a replacement sweater for Thing 2 since she is still wearing one I made her two years ago that now fits like a shrug. Go figure.

The sweater came out rather well considering the pattern was in french and Google translate did some interesting things to the terminology. I ended up making my own diagram and sort of winging it for the collar. So it's some what off center and one side is a bit free form. But the yarn is wonderfully soft and machine washable Perfect for a very active 4 year old girl.

Garter Stitch Cardigan pattern by Mamoizelle K

On Ravelry;  gilet simple

FYI: How to Make Fabric Buttons

Monster pillow

Three weeks of rain did allow me time to finish some inside projects. My monster pillow is one of many. This guy was inspired by the very talented work of Debi van Zyl.  Checkout her Etsy store for her zany sweater creatures. My monster is taking in a little sun in the garden today as it has finally stopped raining. Normally he is on my couch hanging out with my cats.  

Blue Baby Set

Berry Baby Hat

Baby Shoes

I finished this set plus an extra pair of shoes last week before I succumbed to the plague. Okay not the plague exactly, more like a head cold.  But still it's damned irritating and doing nothing to help my cabin fever. The set was sold locally and the other booties, I guess you can't really say they're shoes, will go to Florida for a member of The Ships Project crew.
I shouldn't really complain about the head cold since at this stage, Mom has it worse than me. I'm at the tired of being sick stage rather than the sick and tired and never going to get out of bed again stage.- which is where Mom is just coming out of. 

I miss color.....

It's snowed again over the weekend and there is more on the way this week. It's cold and dark; and I want Spring. I've turned into a small whiny child. I want Spring. I want flowers and color and light!

I did the same thing last year too.

I think Bucky has the right idea. It's a good day to go back to bed and stay there. I  however am trying to overcome that impulse and be somewhat productive. I've got 'A Year in Provence' on the tube and am trying to finish up a baby set. I will say this is an ideal time to work on baby things. The yarn is so soft and cheerful, it almost makes me forget that its 15 degrees outside. Almost.

Also in progress is a set of very flowery pillowslips. (Another attempt to stave off winter madness.)  The last pic is of my new pile of pom pom trims. I'm leaving it on a table in the living room. It just makes me smile to see it laying there. Such a silly thing, pom pom trim. I have no idea what I'm going to do with it, but I love it.


Other good things I found recently include the blog Lists of Note. Found via 101 Cookbooks last week. I need to print out and frame "Things to Worry About". (Extremely good advice. Why didn't my Dad ever send me such good advice?)

Good bloggy advice here.
I do apologize too much.  I think it may be genetic. My grandmother, who was a champion pie maker, brought everything to the table with a disclaimer. The crust not being quite right or the filling being bit too runny. I do the same thing with everything. I think it may be some sort of back handed way to provoke a response from the family. (Who are not the most effusive people.) Of course now that I think of it; I'm incapable of accepting a compliment either. 

So clearly I'm nuts and descend from a long line of emotionally stunted women. 

Finished Objects

Knit cat_____goofy hats_______bed pockets for Thing 1and 2. Slushy weekend with lots of fog. Thinking about quilts and new old fabric.

Fudgy Brownies, Fine Cooking Jun/Jul 2006

This is the brownie recipe from last week. The version that is on the Fine Cooking website looks to be a bigger batch to me, but there were some very mixed reviews in their comments.

This week in review

 

made pig

yelled at Clyde

made a pig 

rescued Thumbs from Clyde, again

made half a pig

pulled Thumbs from underneath the bath tub

put Clyde out in the snow

tried to clean a bite on Thumbs' thigh

left a message with the cat coordinator for the county animal shelter, Clyde must go

put salve on Thumbs' wound

let Clyde back in

finished a pig

Threw a slipper at Clyde when he  went after Thumbs again.

set up quarters for Thumbs upstairs

did my best to shave fur around the wound, applied more salve

vet can't see her until next Tuesday

sent photos of Clyde off to cat coordinator

tried to convince Tabby cat not to be an annoying little brother and let Thumbs heal. 

failed to keep Tabby cat from hanging upside down over Thumbs

Clyde is listed on Craig's List

Why did I want three cats?

I need a nap

Finished Object Friday

I'm on a coffee break from cookie madness at the moment. Why I think I need to make so many varieties is beyond me. I still doing it. I just don't know why.
I think this is part of my Christmas mania.  I must knit far more hats than any child could possibly want and have enough cookies on hand should a platoon stop by. 

Although in all honesty I am not completely off my rocker in my knit projects. Pointy hats and the ones with ears may not have been on any ones list but the beard was vigorously requested by a seven year old.

Details for all the projects will at some point be on my Ravelry page. No promises as to when as it's 8 days til the big day and I have an unexpected house guest arriving on Sunday.

Christmas mania

The count down to Christmas has begun and my shipping deadline is looming. After spending most of November adding to my Christmas and Crafty Things  pages on Pinterest I have no shortage of ideas. Now I'm down to the problem of staying focused.  I have half a dozen projects in progress and the house resembles an exploded crafts store. But instead of finishing things I keep starting new stuff.  I blame the internet and an abundance of silly hats and mustache merchandise.Thing 1 may live in a temperate climate but he's going to be ready for snow this year.

Source: theboytrifecta.com via Meredith on Pinterest

I just can't make myself do the final hemming on aprons when I could be making monster hats. I don't know what's in the air this year but there can be no plain beanies.

Source: morganmagicavalon.blogspot.com via Meredith on Pinterest

I finished two of these and they're really cute.

Source: flavorwire.com via Meredith on Pinterest

How can you not love Shark Mitts?

Incognito cowl

I don't know who's getting a mustache cowl but I'm making one. Clearly I've gone round the bend. Of course the longer I'm on the internet the more apparent it is that I have company.

Source: uncommongoods.com via Meredith on Pinterest

Source: store.heliotropehome.com via Meredith on Pinterest